An other Christian WordPress.com site – Een andere Christelijke WordPress.com site

CHAPTER TWO:
THE RESULT OF THE SPIRIT-OUTPOURING

[“Baptized in the Name of Jesus”]
Key word: Believers

Acts 2:1-4 – Apostles Filled with Spirit

AC2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled,[1] all of the [apostles] were gathered together at the same upper room.[2] AC2:2 Suddenly there was a sound from above like the noise of a violent wind,[3] and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. AC2:3 Split tongues of fire appeared[4] and these rested upon each one [of the apostles]. AC2:4 All of them were filled with the holy Pneuma[5] and foreign languages were given to them.[6]

Acts 2:5-13 – An International Crowd Responds

AC2:5 Now there were pious[7] Jewish men dwelling in Jerusalem from all nations under heaven.[8] AC2:6 And when they happened to hear the sound[9] the gathered crowd was confused because they were each hearing the apostles speak in their own language.[10] AC2:7 They were amazed and astonished and began to say: “Look! are not all these speaking Galileans?[11] AC2:8 So how are we all hearing in our own native languages?[12] AC2:9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, those from Pontus and Asia, AC2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egyptians, and those from Cyrene in Libya, visitors from Rome (both Hebrews and Jewish converts), AC2:11 Cretans and Arabs – all of us in our own languages hear them in other languages the mighty acts of The God.”[13] AC2:12 And all were amazed and perplexed among themselves, saying: “What can this mean?” AC2:13 However, others continued to mock and say: “They are all full of sweet wine!”

*

[1]The day of Pentecost was fulfilled: Or, fully come, in the course of, running its course. For details on Pentecost and the various names that describe it see Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Numbers 28:26-31; Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9, 10. This would be 50 days from Nisan 16, 33 AD.

[2]All of the [apostles] were gathered together at the same upper room: Or, one place, met together. The context will show that only the twelve apostles were present on this occasion.

[3]A sound from above like the noise of a violent wind: Or, TCN: that of a strong wind coming nearer and nearer; MOF: like a violent blast of wind; AMP: the rushing of a violent tempest blast. The Greek word PNEUMA, as well as the Hebrew RUACH, mean literally a wind or breath. Anyone who has experience severe winds understands what this must have sounded like. Here the Greek for “wind” is PNOES [blowing].

[4]Split tongues of fire appeared: Or, KJV: cloven tongues; ASV: tongues parting asunder; TCN: tongues of what appeared to be flame, separating; WEY: tongues of what looked like fire, distributing themselves over the assembly. Many hold the view that this occurred upon 120 of the disciples. However, a close look at the context and the exact wording, points more to the fact that this happened only to the Twelve – the group originally promised such an outpouring of holy Pneuma by Jesus.

[5]All of them were filled with the holy Pneuma: The use of the word “filled” means the Pneuma became fully operative on the apostles, each in an individual way – each with a different language. This divine Pressure accomplished the will of God according to His purpose.

[8]There were pious Jewish men dwelling in Jerusalem from all nations under heaven: The word for “men” is ANDRES and means “males.” It is likely many of the distant travelers remained from Passover 50 days before. Jerusalem could swell to upwards of one million persons during Jewish festivals. Here is the original seed of the Gospel that would now spread into much of the known world.

[9]When they happened to hear the sound: The sound was, therefore, considerable as it could be heard outside the home where the apostles met.

[10]They were each hearing the apostles speak in their own language: The languages are then listed and it is possible to combine these into a dozen, meaning each apostle spoke one language understandable by these Jewish men.

[11]Are not all these speaking Galileans: The angel of the ascension addressed the eleven as “men of Galilee.” It would appear that Matthias was also a Galilean. It would seem unlikely that the 120 disciples were all Galilean confirming that only the apostles are meant.

[12]Hearing in our own native languages: By examining each of the language groups it can be seen the great distances these men traveled. Thus, later after their baptism and their return home, we can see thousands of paths leading to every part of the Roman world. Parthians came from south east of the Caspian Sea including as far as India. Christianity would develop in the world of the Persia religion. Medes and Elamites from the Iran Plateau were also from a Persian background. Elam was southeast of Mesopotamia, also called Khuzestan in southwest Iran. Mesopotamia is something of another name for Babylon, including present day Iraq. Thus, these peoples, though likely also speaking Hebrew and Greek, generally spoke a related Persia language. [Aramaic] Judea would indicate that one of the apostles was speaking Hebrew. Cappadocians were from what is today Turkey and Armenia. Pontus was the area around the Black Sea. Asia in the Christian Bible does not mean China, but Asia Minor which included such places as Galatia. Phrygia was also part of Asia Minor. Pamphylia was also part of Asia Minor. All these above places were north of Israel reaching as far as Turkey and India. Most spoke either Persian, Greek, or Latin. Now the list goes south to North Africa where there were large populations of Jews in Egypt and Libya. Then northwest to Rome, the island of Crete; and back to the southwest in Arabia.

[13]The mighty acts of The God: Or, wonderful works, majesty of God, triumphs, excellencies, magnificence. The content of this universal message in a dozen languages is unknown, but it may have been a general praise of God and His creative works and mighty deeds. These Jews would have been familiar with such praises. It does not seem that any mention was made of Jesus Christ, for that came later in Peter’s sermon.

Also of interest:

Related articles

Pentecost, the Harvest of the Holy Spirit (insightscoop.typepad.com)
First, there is the feast of Pentecost, which the Israelites called “the feast of weeks”, a reference to the seven weeks from the Passover to the celebration of Pentecost (cf., Lev 23:9-21; Deut 16:9-12). The number seven signified completion and fullness. Originally, the feast focused on giving thanks for the harvest; it later was associated with the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, traditionally believed to have occurred fifty days after the first Passover in Egypt. The description of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon those in the Upper Room is concise, but is clearly meant to invoke a connection to the great theophanies, or appearances by God, that took place on Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Herob), which were accompanied by noises from heaven, strong winds, and fire (Ex 19:16-19; 1 Kngs 19:11-12; cf., CCC 696).

The Day Of Pentecost (iamnotashamedofthegospelofchrist.com)
As Israel celebrates Shavuot,(which we believe in also) the day they received the law from Moses, we Christians are in remembrance of the birth of Christ’s Church, in the day of Pentecost. When God sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. This is a little celebrated Holiday or day of importance with Christians and it needs to be given more attention. This is not only the day the Christian church was born, it is the day the God sent power and His Holy Spirit to all believers. He is risen! He is Alive! And He comes to us in the Holy Spirit!
+
Pentecost (Ancient Greek: Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], “the Fiftieth [day]“) is the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks, a prominent feast in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This feast is still celebrated as Shavuot. Later, in the Christianliturgical year, it is also a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the twelve Apostles of Christ.

Did Chris and the Apostles Speak in Hebrew or Greek? (romecorruptedchristianity.wordpress.com)
Undoubtedly Jesus was given a good Jewish education as a boy, even though he was born in a modest household.
His family was devoutly Jewish, as indicated by their adherence to The Torah (Luke2:39-40) He learned to read the Hebrew texts of the Bible and was adept at reasoning with the Torah sages of his day.
+
“Until recently, it was believed by numerous scholars that the language spoken by Jesus’ disciples was Aramaic. But during that period, Hebrew was both the daily language and the language of study.”
– Source (Jewish Sources in Early Christianity, Adama Boooks). by The Late Dr. David Flusser Professor of Early Christianity and Judaism of the Second Temple Period The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
+
“The Gospel of Mark contains a few aramaic words, and this was what misled scholars. Today, after the discovery of the Hebrew BenSir (Ecclesiasticus), of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and of the Bar Kochba Letters, and in light of more profound studies of the language of the Jewish Sages, it is accepted that most people were fluent in Hebrew.”
– Source (Jewish Sources in Early Christianity, Adama Boooks). by The Late Dr. David Flusser Professor of Early Christianity and Judaism of the Second Temple Period The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Feast of Holy Pentecost (orthodoxlogos5.wordpress.com)
This miraculous event occurred on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, celebrated by the Jews on the fiftieth day after the Passover as the culmination of the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). The Feast of Weeks began on the third day after the Passover with the presentation of the first harvest sheaves to God, and it concluded on Pentecost with the offering of two loaves of unleavened bread, representing the first products of the harvest (Leviticus 23:17-20; Deuteronomy 16:9-10).
+
The Bible records that on that day about three thousand were baptized. Following, the book of Acts states that the newly baptized continued daily to hear the teaching of the Apostles, as the early Christians met together for fellowship, the breaking of bread, and for prayer. Many wonderful signs and miracles were done through the Apostles, and the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

The Apostles in the upper room being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Forbidden Territory – Asia (Ephesus) (keithlannon.wordpress.com)
The book of Acts is explicit, Paul was “forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia”, and as they reconnoitred Bithynia for evangelistic purposes, it was not because of the lack of prayer support or finances that they, yet again, were turned away. It wasn’t because people were not of a demographic that suggested they were not open to the gospel.
+
We all need to see that often the secret to accomplishment is in doing the right thing at the right time. “Timing is everything,”

Why I’m Catholic: Acts of the Apostles (newevangelizers.com)
There are plenty of occasions of Hellenists (Greek converts to Christianity) complaining about the Hebrews and visa-versa. There is of course, the awkward situation where new followers completely miss the point, and Paul and Barnabas get mistaken for the Greek gods Hermes and Zeus. Eventually, serious debates over food laws and circumcision result in Council of Jerusalem, the forerunner of all future councils.And even though miracles and healings abound, not even the Apostles understand at the beginning that God’s will is for a robust mission to the Gentiles. No, they have to discover all this through an Ethiopian eunuch’s surprising request for baptism and the testimony of Cornelius, a Gentile.

Believers Baptism this Sunday! (riverrockchurch.com)
When the apostles took the gospel across the Roman Empire from Jerusalem, new churches were established, and believers were baptized soon after they turned away from sin and put their trust in Christ for salvation. Acts 18:18 says, … many of the Corinithians who heard [Paul] believed and were baptized.

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle (smscj.wordpress.com)
One to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Barnabas filled with Holy Spirit, so that he could be an instrument in the proclamation of the Gospel. He beca me a missionary. Often we are not filled with Holy Spirit, and our proclamation is not effective. He was filled with Holy Spirit to the point of dying for Jesus.

In the 15th century, the invention of the Gutenberg press meant that every literate Christian could read the Bible for themselves. This sowed the seeds for the Protestant reformation in which the self-interpreted Bible supplanted the church magisterium as the basic authority for Christian teaching. In the 21st century, the Internet and specifically the blogosphere and […]

Recent Posts on the Lifestyle Magazine: Stepping Toes

The Jewish Museum of New York her latest core exhibition reveals a distance from Judaism indistinguishable from disregard, embarrassment, and disdain. Menachem Wecker’s essay on Scenes from the Collection, the latest permanent exhibition at the Jewish Museum of New York, talks about the city’s venerable 115-year-old Jewish Museum. Its collection of about 30,000 objects makes […]

Recent Posts on the other Lifestyle Magazine and Readers Digest: From guestwriters

The great museums of the 18th and 19th centuries — the British Museum in London (1753), the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg (1764), the Louvre in Paris (1792), the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (1891), and many others — were encyclopedic in scope and ambition. Born, in part, of an imperial impulse, they aimed to demonstrate […]

International Biblestudents Association
The IBSA or cooperative association of Bible Student congregations worldwide, all united by the common beliefs taught in Brother Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures series